BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore police officials say the department cut its use of stun guns nearly in half in 2016.
The Baltimore Sun reports (http://bsun.md/2jsh1Ca) that the department reported 181 stun gun incidents in 2016, a 46 percent decline from the record high of 347 the agency recorded in 2015.
Commissioner Kevin Davis enacted a new policy in July that required officers to use stun guns only when suspects display “active aggression.” Previously, officers could stun suspects for failing to follow orders.
Justice Department investigators had criticized the department for using stun guns on noncompliant people who did not display any force against officers.
Police spokesman T.J. Smith says the increase in stun gun use in 2015 was driven by an increase in crime, the issue of stun guns to more officers and the old policy.
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This story has corrected the commissioner’s name to “Kevin Davis,” and has added the full name of police spokesman T.J. Smith.
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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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